Plant guide:ðŸŒŋ Fern
Back to Plant Clinic
⚠ Minor
ðŸĐš
Light

Sunburn and Scorch on Fern Fronds

Commonly affects: Various ferns (Polypodiopsida)

Fronds develop a bleached, yellow-brown, or crispy patch, usually on the side facing direct sun exposure.

Potential Causes

  1. 1Direct sun exposure, which most ferns cannot tolerate given their natural understory forest habitat
  2. 2A sudden move from a shadier spot to a brighter, sunnier window without acclimation
  3. 3Sun intensifying through a window at certain times of day or year

Solution Steps

  1. 1Move the plant to bright, indirect or filtered light rather than direct sun
  2. 2Use a sheer curtain to filter direct sun if a bright window is the only available spot
  3. 3Damaged frond tissue won't recover, but new growth will be unaffected once moved
  4. 4Trim off severely scorched fronds for appearance

Prevention Tip

Ferns evolved under a forest canopy and are naturally suited to filtered, indirect light — direct sun is one of the most avoidable causes of frond scorch.

More Light Issues Problems

See all →
Sun Scorch & Leaf Bleaching — Photooxidative Damage — calathea plant care

Sun Scorch & Leaf Bleaching — Photooxidative Damage

LED Grow Light Burn — Bleaching & Necrosis from Artificial Light — monstera plant care

LED Grow Light Burn — Bleaching & Necrosis from Artificial Light

Pale bleached Pothos leaves from direct sun exposure

Pothos Pale Washed-Out Leaves — Sun Bleaching from Direct Exposure

Fiddle Leaf Fig sunburn — bleached patches from direct sun on Ficus lyrata

Fiddle Leaf Fig Sunburn — Bleached Patches from Direct Sun Exposure

See how growers dealt with this →
Track this problem in your grow diary